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Oasis in the desert. Mecca for players all over the world. This city is amazing. How was it possible to create this luxury in the middle of the Nevada desert? Michael Corleone strove here, believing that the future lay in the gambling business. And he was not wrong!
The landmark of the city is the Flamingo casino hotel, which amazes with its sophistication and luxury. Every day this establishment receives hundreds of visitors and guests who came here to try their luck in gambling. But few casino visitors know about it unusual story, which started in New York...
On February 28, 1906, in a family of poor emigrants from Russia, a boy was born, whom, paying tribute to his new homeland, his parents named Benjamin. The Siegelbaum family lived more than modestly in a poor neighborhood inhabited by emigrants like themselves. The area was crime-prone, which had an impact on the boy’s future fate.
IN adolescence, he, along with other boys, engaged in theft, and as he grew older, together with a certain Moe Sidway, he took up racketeering - extorting money from small merchants in his native Brooklyn. Behind his back they began to call him “Bugsy,” which means “unbalanced.” The racket brought income, but it all seemed small to Ben; he wanted more. And fate brought him an acquaintance with the future legendary Meyer Lansky, who was not much older than Siegelbaum.
Under his leadership, the teenager began to engage in gambling and car theft. Their criminal community also included Lucky Luciano, the future “godfather” of the mafia. There is a version that Bugsy committed his first contract murder as a teenager, in 1917. In 1918, Bugsy took part in his first major “case” - a bank robbery, which, however, did not bring the young robbers the much-desired big jackpot , but attracted the attention of influential gangsters.
A conflict arose between them and the gangster Giuseppe Masseria, nicknamed “Boss Joe,” because Masseria wanted to force Siegel and his comrades to share their income with him. After several skirmishes in which Siegel, Lansky, and Luciano were victorious, they joined Albert Rothstein's criminal organization and began bootlegging when Prohibition arrived. The young gangsters had many competitors. In those years it was very profitable business. Its influential bosses were Dutch Schultz, Carlo Gambino, and Albert Anastasia. Siegel, Lansky, and Luciano had to show all their dexterity and ingenuity in order to make a profit from this business. During these years, Siegel maintained a relationship with Al Capone.
In January 1929, a joyful event occurred in Siegel's life: he married his childhood friend, Esty. Soon they have two daughters. However, this circumstance could not keep Bugsy from having affairs on the side. He loved his family, trying in every possible way to protect them from problems; his wife and children did not know the truth about his affairs.
In the early 30s, during a large-scale gangster conflict, Bugsy Siegel eliminates his sworn enemy - Joe's boss, Giuseppe Masseria, and a very influential man in the underworld of those years - Salvatore Maranzano, who much later will appear in the pages of Mario Puzo's novel " Godfather" Bugsy Siegel was one of those who stood at the origins of the notorious syndicate of hitmen who carried out contract killings in the criminal world. Bugsy himself was a member of the syndicate, performing the work of a hitman.
In 1937, Bugsy Siegel and his family moved to permanent place residence in sunny California. At that time, American cinema was in its heyday, and Bugsy became interested in it, or rather, in pretty actresses. He was gallant with the ladies, did not skimp on compliments, and knew how to make the right impression, so he had no shortage of fans. Among them were famous actresses of that period, such as Marie Macdonald, whose beauty captivated hundreds of men.
The legendary killer lived in luxury, which he could afford by extorting money from movie magnates. He was arrested several times, but was soon released again. In California, he had a whirlwind romance with Virginia Hill, who was involved in smuggling. It is quite possible that Benjamin’s wife knew about his affairs, but wanting to save the family, or for other reasons, turned a blind eye to it.
In the early 40s, Bugsy Siegel decided to implement a grandiose plan: to turn Las Vegas, a small town in Nevada, into a gambling center, in many ways superior to Monte Carlo in Europe. Las Vegas at that time was an unremarkable town, like many in the United States. But this town was in Nevada, where gambling was allowed, which meant it stood out from other small towns. Bugsy also wanted to go into legal business, apparently realizing that the time had come to do things differently.
Bugsy considered himself experienced in such matters, and this self-confidence played a cruel joke on him. Money for his project was given by friends of his youth - Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. Other established gangsters also contributed financially to the construction, which was expected to pay off handsomely. But this did not happen. Bugsy Siegel, a hardened businessman, was incompetent in such matters as the construction business. Playfully, the sharks of the construction business deceived the seasoned criminal, the money literally went into the sand of Nevada. Bugsy's ambition also served him poorly. The plans were grandiose, but the funds allocated for them were not enough.
By the end of 1946, the construction limit was exceeded; on this occasion, a conference was held between representatives of the Families, who invested in the casino project in Las Vegas. It has been suggested that Siegel embezzled some of the funds, which he transferred to accounts in the name of his mistress, Virginia Hill. At this conference, held in Havana, it was decided to kill Siegel. However, Lucky Luciano, also a participant in the conference, in memory of his old friendship with Bugsy, suggested not rushing to carry out the sentence, but to wait for the opening of the Flamingo casino.
The world-famous Flamingo Casino opened its doors to visitors at the end of December 1946. However, it soon closed to complete the decoration of the hotel rooms, and opened its doors again in May next year, and began to make a profit. However, this did not save Bugsy Siegel from death. The gangsters could not forgive him for wasting the common money, and summer evening On June 20, 1947, Bugsy Siegel, officially Benjamin Siegelbaum, was shot and killed by an assassin. None of his accomplices wanted to attend the funeral, last way gangster Bugsy Siegel was seen off only by his relatives.
The casino-hotel "Flamingo" outlived its creator, it was from here that the active development of Las Vegas as the capital of the gambling business began, and today the "Flamingo" welcomes visitors and guests who count on the smile of Fortune.

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel walked through a dusty construction site at the future of the luxury Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to meet William Wilkerson. They shook hands. William was at a loss as to what could have brought this inhabitant of Hollywood here, to this desert land abandoned by God.

"I'm your new partner," Siegel said.

Its icy Blue eyes looked at Wilkerson, who, to his horror, only now realized that he had made a million-dollar deal with gangsters. Moreover, now he is shaking hands with the most famous of them - a notorious murderer, whose face never leaves the smile.

Ice and fire

Bugsy Siegel was an attractive, blue-eyed brunette - a descendant of Russian Jewish emigrants - with hair the color of motor oil in the crankcases of the cars he stole. His smile was enough to light up an entire Las Vegas area. By age 21, he had his own room at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

They say Siegel was a fearless, aggressive and ruthless criminal who didn't care about anything. human life. He had no fear of death and was a cold-blooded thug. All these qualities attracted the attention of Meyer Lansky, who hired Bugsy as a hitman and driving force newly created Jewish criminal group, which later became known as The Bugs and Meyer Mob.

Bugsy Siegel

During Prohibition, the gang rented trucks in New York while selling stolen trucks and drivers to bootleggers. Lansky ran the business so skillfully that it brought in no less income than legal car rental centers. In addition, they carried out orders for murders from other New York gangs. Things were looking up.

“In moments of danger, Bugsy never wavered,” recalled Joseph Stacher, a member of The Bugs and Meyer Mob. - While we were choosing what to do best, Bugsy was already shooting. He was a man of action. I have never met a more determined and courageous guy."

In the late 1920s, a real war broke out between longtime rivals Joe "The Boss" Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. Siegel and Lansky's partner Charles "Lucky" Luciano was on Joe Masseria's side. He received his nickname a few years earlier, when Salvatore Maranzano's men hung him by his feet from a tree on one of the deserted highways and burned his face with burning cigars until they were sure that he was dead, and then they left. At the hospital, Luciano received 55 stitches, but survived. However, in the current confrontation between Masseria and Maranzano, the advantage was clearly on the side of the latter.

Luciano did not miss his chance and offered the Maranzano clan a deal, promising to bring the head of Joe Masseria. On April 15, 1931, everything was completed. Siegel was directly involved in the murder. He was only 25.

Five months later, Lucky Luciano, along with Siegel, completed his evil plan, leaving Salvatore Maranzano bleeding on the floor of his Manhattan office.

Based on the remains of two warring factions, Luciano created the famous “National Crime Syndicate”, in which Benjamin Siegel headed the murder department. Meyer Lansky became the commercial director and accountant.

But Siegel did not stay in New York. Snitch suspect Tony Frabrazzo was killed on the doorstep of his parents, who saw Siegel pull the trigger. But he had an alibi - at that time he was allegedly in the hospital. Within a few months, the picture of the murder began to become clearer, and Benjamin was hastily sent to southern California.

In California, Siegel joined various labor unions, starting as a Hollywood extra. He instigated actor strikes and forced studios and directors to pay him to keep things going. Wasting no time, he became a favorite of celebrities, seducing young actresses and cleaning out the pockets of movie stars from whom he borrowed money and then simply refused to pay it back.

Pink dream

William Wilkerson, publisher of the Hollywood Reporter magazine and owner of several clubs in Los Angeles, was born in 1890. Gambling was his passion—there wasn't a day when he didn't go betting on the racetrack, playing poker or craps—and as a result, he found himself on the brink of bankruptcy several times.

This short man with big head owned several of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, but preferred to eat canned sardines and sandwiches. He chain-smoked, drank 15-20 cans of cola a day and barely slept. For 33 years, starting with the very first issue of the Hollywood Reporter in 1930, he wrote a daily opinion column for the magazine.

On Sundays and Thursdays he could be found poker table in the homes of film producers Samuel Goldwyn or Irving Thalbergs. They played with $20,000 in chips, and more often than not, Wilkerson came home empty. According to New York Times, in one of these games, Goldwyn won from Jack Warner the right to star Bette Davis in his films (who enjoyed such authority at the Warner Bros. studio that she was jokingly called the “fourth Warner brother” - approx. per.). Jack put her up to pay off a debt of $425,000.

Because of his addiction to acting, Wilkerson repeatedly endangered his Hollywood empire. In the past, his father went bankrupt according to the same scenario. William often flew to Las Vegas to play and was never without a pair of dice and a deck of cards. And he continued to lose.

After another big loss, one friend told him: “If you like to gamble so much, build yourself a casino. Don’t make bets, but accept them.”

Wilkerson agreed and in 1944, for $84,000, bought a 33-acre plot of land on the site of an old ranch a few miles south of downtown Las Vegas. He hated the dingy, wood-floored gambling dens of Vegas and dreamed of a real, air-conditioned resort that would appeal not only to the Hollywood crowd, but to people all over America. William planned to build a luxurious establishment, which simply did not exist in Las Vegas at that time.

From the very beginning, the main element of the complex was to be a casino, which could not be avoided. No clocks or windows. Bars, nightclubs, shops and spas. There is also a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool, shooting range, stables and squash court.

Wilkerson named his creation Flamingo because he adored these birds. Another common version that Bugsy named the casino in honor of his beloved Virginia Hill, nicknamed “Flamingo,” is not true.

Construction began in 1945. Wilkerson planned to keep it at $1.2 million, but did not take into account the jump in prices after the end of World War II. By December he had nothing left.

Banks refused to give Wilkerson a loan, despite the fact that a third of the complex was built. Perhaps Wilkerson shouldn't have taken $200,000 out of his budget to pay off his gambling debt. The fact that he could not find investors among his acquaintances in the film industry once again speaks of their attitude towards him and his ambitious project.

William Wilkerson

Rumors of a casino being built reached Meyer Lansky, and he decided that Flamingo would be a good investment. Lansky contacted Wilkerson through his lawyer, who told William that he represented businessmen with east coast who heard about his financial difficulties.

Wilkerson asked for a million dollars to complete construction, as well as a third of the profits and a decisive vote in the management of the project. East Coast investors were expected to remain passive partners. By the end of February 1946, Lansky and several other syndicate members transferred money to Wilkerson.

But when their money is on the line, the gangsters get nervous. They needed an observer to monitor the movement of funds. In March, Siegel introduced himself to Wilkerson as a partner.

In just a few weeks collaboration the psychopath Siegel was tired of the role assigned to him. He felt like an errand boy and was not going to put up with it. Bugsy began to appear at the construction site more often and make changes to plans approved a year before he learned about the project. He also started saying that he now makes all the decisions.

By April, Siegel and Wilkerson began working independently, sharing suppliers and budgets. In May, Bugsy spent his entire share and demanded money from Wilkerson. He refused.

In June, Siegel founded the Nevada Project Corporation of California, installed himself as its president, and bought up enough shares to gain control of Flamingo. Wilkerson accepted a five percent stake in exchange for creative control and left Vegas.

Flamingo has passed into the hands of gangsters.

Siegel immediately fired all of Wilkerson's workers, redrew the construction plan and began to realize his own dream of Vegas, which, ironically, was very similar to Wilkerson's own dream.

Bugsy was not a good manager. Construction costs skyrocketed and Siegel completely lost control. He began to threaten the workers with physical violence, and then apologized: “Don’t worry, we’ll just kill you.”

“He had a terrible temper,” Siegel’s daughter said in a television interview. - When he was angry, it was impossible to hide from him. But usually he behaved very calmly.”

In August, Bugsy traded the land for another five percent, and Wilkerson regained control of the project. He wanted to get rid of Siegel and knew that if investors on the East Coast found out how he was spending their money, they would immediately take action.

Wilkerson began publishing construction estimates in his magazine. Upon learning of this, Bugsy became furious.

At the December shareholders meeting, Siegel demanded that Wilkerson divest himself of his stake entirely. William began to protest, then Siegel, not paying attention to those gathered, threatened to kill him. Construction costs by that time had reached $6 million. Wilkerson fled to Paris.

The syndicate members were worried, most of them were pretty tired of Bugsy. They read the Hollywood Reporter, saw the numbers, and concluded that Siegel simply stole money from them. Lansky, Siegel's longtime friend, persuaded them to wait until the casino opened to see if it would be profitable enough to pay off the debt.

Bugsy felt the tension, and although construction was still months away, he planned a grand opening for December, inviting all his friends from Hollywood. The ceremony was meant to show the syndicate that the investment and risk were worth it.

The plan failed. A storm arose and most of the planes never left Los Angeles. Vegas got it too. Record amounts of rain turned roads into mud. In addition, in the first weeks after the opening of the casino, a terrible downswing hit. Siegel lost that bet.

Bugsy closed the Flamingo in January to complete construction and reopened it in March as the Fabulous Flamingo. The project brought in $250,000 in May. This was not enough.

Meyer Lansky must have regarded stealing money from friends as an unforgivable act. On June 20, Benjamin Siegel, reading a newspaper at the home of his beloved Virginia Hill, was shot in the face with a gun. The bullet hit him in the nose and knocked out his eye. None of Bugsy's friends came to the funeral.

Wilkerson returned to California on June 23, 1960, and sold his interest to the Miami crime family. Meyer Lansky arranged the deal for $10.5 million and received $200,000.

William Wilkerson died in 1962.

The Flamingo Casino was completely rebuilt in the 80s, and today it is owned by Harrah's Entertainment Corporation.

Despite all his charm, Benjamin Bugsy Siegel became famous throughout America as one of the most ruthless and bloody mafia bosses. At one time, it was he who, with the help of racketeering and extortion, was able to unite the US criminal world under himself, and also became an example for all subsequent gangsters. In addition, he dominated the casino world, and his name became synonymous with the gambling capital of the world - Las Vegas.

A cruel and bloody sociopath, he could do whatever he wanted - he killed whoever he wanted, maimed if he wanted. In 1991, a film was made about Bugsy Siegel called "Bugsy", which showed him in a somewhat romantic manner, because he was not eager for money or power, but was trying to create his own paradise. But this “paradise” actually became bloody.

The article will tell you exactly how he tried to build his empire, the path to which ended in death for him.

The situation in the country

40s of the 20th century... The Second World War recently ended World War, in which the United States took part. The echoes of the dropped ones died down nuclear bombs- The country was united at that time. It can be said that during this period Americans experienced a rise in patriotism. Enterprises tried to regulate supply standards and fought against rationing. At this time, gangsters, it would seem, should have faded into the background, but for some reason they began to flourish.

The newly rebuilt Las Vegas gradually became what it is today. Not long ago, being a small town in the desert, it began to attract crowds of players who, although frightened by connections with organized crime, could not refuse the temptation of the game. At the beginning of its heyday, Vegas was full of dark secrets and secrets, and many of them were associated with the name of the gangster Bugsy Siegel. Films and TV series that show the American mafia show the history of this period quite beautifully, but in many ways one-sided. You should never forget that this sociopath did not spare anyone for his dream. Las Vegas, the city of Sin, got its second name for a reason - at one time people easily killed and maimed here, and Bugsy Siegel himself, one might say, its founder, did it. He lived for his dream, and since he had no restrictions, he did anything to make it come true.

Birth

The future mafioso Bugsy Siegel was born into a very poor family. His parents Max Siegel and Jenny Richenthal were Jews who migrated first from Ukraine and then from the future Soviet Union. Although in fact this fact has not been established for certain, since, according to some information, the history of his family begins in Austria.

The child was born on January 28, 1906 in the Williamsburg area of ​​Brooklyn, which was populated by migrants. He was the second child in a family of five children in total. The constant lack of money forced Siegel's parents to take on any job that came to hand. It was at this time that Bugsy realized that he no longer wanted to live like this, and his natural fearlessness and environment, filled with Italian and Irish gangs, only encouraged him to take to the streets in search of profit.

First steps in crime

In the photo, Bugsy Siegel looks like a handsome and impressive man, so it is quite difficult to believe that he began his criminal activities at the age of 12.

He first tried to steal in the Lower East Side, becoming a member of one of the gangs of boys who operated in that area. He soon met Mo Sedway, who became his mentor. He taught Bugsy Siegel how to racketeer. They went to Lafayette Street in the morning and extorted protection money from merchants. When they refused to pay, the boys overturned the carts and even set them on fire. Ultimately, this led to everyone actually starting to pay them.

Meeting with Meyer Lansky

Usually in the criminal community the name of Meyer Lansky is usually associated with Lucky Luciano. The little Jew and the Italian had been friends since school and were faithful to each other until the very end. Only Meyer trusted Luciano in everything. They truly walked their path hand in hand. However, it can be said that Lansky was also close acquaintances with Bugsy Siegel. They also met as children, presumably in 1918. The first meeting of their gangs was truly fateful. The reckless Lansky and the unafraid Siegel started a fight, in the heat of which one of the gang members pulled out a gun. Lansky managed to take it away and point it at Bugsy, but he was not afraid. It is unclear how that meeting could have ended if the boys had not heard the sound of a police whistle. They ran in one direction, but , instead of continuing to fight, they decided to act together. The influence of the united gangs only grew.

First term

Ordinary life didn't last long for Bugsy Siegel. Less than a year later, he was arrested for rape and armed robbery. In addition, he had a habit of beating people who saw any of his illegal actions. He did not stay in prison for long, but during this time a new Volstead Act was passed in the country, which banned the sale of alcohol. This was truly a goldmine for petty criminals, as bootlegging was much safer than assault. A new time has come for the gang.

The appearance of the nickname

The nickname Bugsy, that is, translated as Bug, stuck with Siegel quite early on. He was known to hate it and attack anyone who called him that. Although it must be admitted that such a nickname suited him perfectly, since he was a rather hot-tempered person and had developed intuition. As they said, his actions resembled a bug.

Formation of a syndicate

The photo shows Bugsy Siegel mainly during the development of Las Vegas, but before his heyday there was still for a long time. Gradually, both Lansky and Siegel became hired killers, and therefore attracted the attention of more seasoned criminals. When Lucky Luciano began to form his own syndicate in the 20s, which mainly consisted of Italian gangs, he invited, of course, his best friend, Meyer Lansky. It is unknown whether Lansky's own reputation or patronage played a role, but Siegel also received his place in this alliance. It was from this period that Bugsy's gradual ascent to the top began underworld. During this period he married Este Krakow, who was his childhood friend and sister of another famous killer. She gave him two daughters, but other than that, she did not play a special role in his life.

This period of history is well depicted in Boardwalk Empire (the famous TV series). Although not much is said here about Bugsy Siegel, the general atmosphere makes it possible to understand how the mafia was able to occupy such a position. important role and practically take control of part of the country.

California period

In the 30s, the gambling business gradually began to develop, so the mafia decided to get involved. In 1937, Lucky Luciano sent Bugsy Siegel to Los Angeles. Bugsy took control of the gaming industry with the help of Mickey Cohen, who acted as his deputy. Using the syndicate's money, he created a special national telegraph service, which allowed him to strengthen his position.

Gradually, Bugsy began to move his family to California, so we can say that even during this period he realized that it made no sense for him to return to New York. He even paid taxes, and some of his business was indeed legal. However, he could not live in peace - he soon killed police informant Harry Greenberg, for which he was tried. Although he was officially acquitted, his reputation was completely destroyed. In addition, the media found out about his previous activities and fully revealed his past in the editorial.

Beginning of Las Vegas

The film "Bugsy Siegel" tells the story of the heyday of the legendary gaming capital - Las Vegas. But it is worth understanding that the film is a film, that is, a beautiful fairy tale that is intended to attract viewers, but in fact the story was much darker.

As stated earlier, Siegel gradually wanted to become legal. However, his reputation after California was completely destroyed, and it was no longer possible to restore it. In an attempt to do something, he was sent by Lansky to Southern Nevada back in 1934. In fact, it can be said that Meyer gave the desert to Siegel in an attempt to get him away from the capital. At first, he wanted nothing to do with this place, and therefore transferred all affairs in this region to his former accomplice Moe Sidway, while he remained in Hollywood. However, this state of affairs did not suit the syndicate, and Siegel still went to the heat of Nevada.

The rise of the gambling world

In 1946, Vegas was already a gaming city, although it was not as popular. The one that stood out the most was the Flamingo Casino, run by Wilkerson. It was he who became a kind of mentor for Siegel, teaching him how to build enterprises. This captured the rabid man so much that he suppressed his aggression for a while and studied regularly, although he hated his teacher.

It is known that Wilkerson was a man of talent, but ultimately all of these talents were what made Siegel jealous. He decided to become more independent and stopped consulting with his mentor. He began to take everything for himself, especially regarding the future hotel, which was being built at that time. By the summer of 1946, Siegel realized that what he had was not enough for him, and he laid his claim to the Flamingo. Surprisingly, he was able to do it - the largest casino became owned by a syndicate.

Siegel's Guide

Although Siegel took control of the hotel and casino under construction, he was not particularly effective at managing it. initial stage. He spent simply exorbitant amounts of money during this period, trying to create a real atmosphere of luxury. The hotel's 93 rooms cost more than $6 million (an incredible sum by the standards of post-war America). The syndicate did not like this very much, so they demanded that normal accounting be kept or threatened to completely deprive of funding. Not wanting to deal with balance sheets, he chose the second option and began raising private funds. Wanting to complete the construction of the hotel as quickly as possible, he opened it on December 26, 1946.

To attract guests, he invited a number of celebrities to the opening evening. But, despite all the preparations and the work of the gambling tables, in fact, the luxury holiday rooms were still not ready, so the early opening was a mistake. Everything had to be closed within a couple of weeks - in January 1947. Realizing that he could not do anything on his own, he turned to Lansky with a request to give him a second chance. He really took advantage of this chance, and soon the newly opened casino began to make a profit. However, by this time the syndicate bosses were completely tired of Bugsy.

The Murder of Bugsy Siegel

On June 20, 1947, the life of this gangster ended. At the time of the murder, he was in his home in Beverly Hills with his friend Allen Smiley. He was reading a newspaper when he was shot from a military carbine. Two bullets hit him in the head, ending his life. A photo was published from the scene of the murder of Bugsy Siegel, in which it can be clearly seen that one of the shots entered the right cheek and exited through the neck, and the second broke the bridge of the nose on the right. In fact, even now it is unknown who the killer was, and no one has even been charged for it. This crime was not officially solved, although it is believed that the order was made directly by Lansky. He had to choose who was more important to him - Luciano or Siegel, and he made a decision not in favor of the latter.

Bugsy was buried in the Bialystoker Synagogue, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. His nameplate is located directly below the plaque of his father, who died about a couple of months before his son.

Quotes

When you lose trust in a person, you lose the person himself.

We were the only agency in the world that regulated the fairness of the game.

We're bigger than U.S. Steel. We are higher than the law.

You can do anything. The main thing: pay taxes on time.

After Big Al recognized Luciano-Lansky's superiority, he once said to Lucky Luciano about his comrade: “It took me a long time to realize that this Mayer understands the Italians better than I do myself. I already told him, perhaps he was born by a Jewish woman, but he was definitely raised by a Sicilian.”

Film incarnations

“The Godfather Part II” 1974 Director – Francis Ford Coppola. The prototype of a character named Hyman Roth played by Lee Strasberg.

“Gangsters” 1991 Director – Michael Karbelnikoff. Lansky is played by Patrick Dempsey.

“Lansky” 1999 Director – John McNaughton. The role of Lansky was played by Richard Dreyfuss.

"Underground Empire" 2010. TV series. The role of Lansky is played by Anatol Jozef.

Benjamin Siegelbaum, better known as Bugsy Siegel (1906–1947), was a well-known American gangster in the 1930s and 1940s. Jewish origin. He was killed on the orders of crime bosses. Like Lansky, who was not Italian by birth, Siegel always moved in the circle Italian mafia, and therefore classified as Italian gangsters.

Finance

Bugsy Siegel is the man who built Las Vegas. At some point he was one of richest people America, but at the end of his life he went bankrupt.

Data

Bugsy Siegel's parents were from Russia.

Actually, Bugsy's name was Benjamin Siegelbaum. The term "Bugsy" means "gone crazy", which he rightly received for his inadequacy. Siegel hated his nickname, and no one ever dared say "Bugsy" in his presence.

Legend has it that in the early 1940s, Bugsy was passing through Las Vegas, but at that time it was a small town near railway. But there is one caveat - gambling is legal in Nevada. Bugsy has a crazy idea: turn this oasis in the desert into a new Monte Carlo. This was not supposed to be an ordinary gambling club, but the most awesome hotel in the world with a casino, nightclub, spa, golf club and other pleasures. True luxury. The casino was named "Flamingo" in honor of the nickname of Bugsy's mistress Virginia Hill, who had unusually slender and long legs.

The Flamingo was the third hotel in Las Vegas and the only one that has survived to this day. Today it is the oldest casino hotel in the city.

The mafia does not forgive thieves. Best friends Bugsy, Mayer Lansky and Lucky Luciano allowed Siegel to finish his life's work - the legendary Flamingo Casino. As soon as the casino began to generate income, it was decided to kill Siegel.

On the evening of June 20, 1947, Siegel returned from the hairdresser to his home in Hollywood. He was sitting peacefully on the couch and reading the newspaper when Eddie Cannizaro, a mafia hitman, shot Bugsy with an M-1 carbine through open window. Only 5 people attended the funeral - blood relatives Bugsy Siegel. None of the gangsters honored the memory of their comrade-in-arms, and his mistress immediately fled the country.

The opening of Flamingo gave impetus to the development of the entire city. Seeing that huge luxury hotel-casinos were making a profit, the mafia opened a whole chain, including Sahara, Sands, Riviera, Tropicana, Binion’s Horseshoe and others.

Quotes

Don't worry, we only kill each other.

Everyone deserves a second chance from time to time.

One becomes a man gradually. This is a long process, and no one has yet been able to do this without outside help.

Las Vegas turns women into men and men into idiots.

“We always analyzed everything before making a decision. Bugsy acted without hesitation. That's why he was so good. He always acted impulsively" (Lucky Luciano)

Film incarnations

“The Godfather” 1970. Director: Francis Ford Coppola. The prototype of a character named Moe Greene, played by Alex Rocco.

"The Story of Virginia Hill". 1974. Director – Joel Schumacher. The role of Siegel was played by Harvey Keitel.

"Gangster Chronicles" 1981 Mini-series. The role of Siegel was played by Joe Penny.

“Once Upon a Time in America” 1984 Director – Sergio Leone. The prototype of the character named Joe Minaldi, played by Burt Young.

“Gangsters” 1991 Director – Michael Karbelnikoff. Siegel is played by Richard Greco.

“Bugsy” 1991 Director – Barry Levinson. Siegel is played by Warren Beatty.

“The Sopranos” 1999 TV series. The prototype for the character is Brandon Philo, played by Anthony DeSande.

“Lansky” 1999 Director – John McNaughton. The role of Siegel was played by Eric Roberts.

“The Marrying Habit” 1999 Director – Richard Rees. The role of Siegel was played by Armand Assante.

"Boardwalk Empire" 2010 TV series. The role of Siegel was played by Michael Zegen.

“City of Gangsters” 2013 TV series. The role of Siegel was played by Edward Burns.

Frank Costello is an American mafioso of Italian descent. Long time led the "Luciano family", later called the Genovese family. Future king gambling and a great businessman. He loved to eat and was known as a true lover of fine cuisine. In the early 30s, he literally flooded the United States with “one-armed bandits.” There were about 5,000 of them throughout the country, each of which brought in $50,000 in profit per week.

Data

He entered the elite of the mafia, becoming famous thanks to the gambling business, as well as his ability to organize large frauds and scams.

For 20 years he led the Genovese clan, increasing the family's wealth from year to year, and at the same time his authority.

Costello maintained his influence in the Mafia even after his "retirement" and regularly met with Carlo Gambino and Thomas Lucchese.

Bottom line

Like many emigrants of the early twentieth century, he did not wait for mercy from the government and began to decide his own destiny, but, unlike many, he managed to rise to the highest level in the mafia hierarchy. He became higher than the government.

Quotes

I ordinary person, an old businessman, tired of the cursed life.

One day he was asked: "Mr. Costello, what have you done for this country?" Frank replied: “Paid taxes!” This was doubly remarkable given that he was soon accused of tax evasion.

It's a pity that icebergs cannot be bribed...

Once upon a time, our support was the church, although it would be more accurate to say that we relied on each other.

I want to gain wealth, power and influence. And I am in the business of taking wealth, power and influence from those who already have it.

I'm the only one who can do what I do. Everyone else died. Do you really want to be me?

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, often called Bugsy Siegel by his contemporaries, had the appearance of a Hollywood star. Expressive blue eyes, curly black hair, regular facial features, pleasant smile, high growth and the impeccable suit made my heart beat faster women's hearts and attracted the envious glances of men.

But brilliant career Bugsy was not associated with cinema. He is remembered as one of the most influential and violent Americans of the first half of the twentieth century. And Siegel’s name is forever inscribed in the history of the Las Vegas Strip, on which the largest casinos in Las Vegas are concentrated.

From poor Jew to crime boss

Benjamin was born on February 28, 1906 into a poor Jewish family. They lived in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood, where mostly immigrants settled. His parents moved to America from the Ukrainian Letichev, Khmelnitsky region, which was then part of the Russian Empire.

While his father and mother scraped by with meager earnings, trying to feed and clothe their five children, Bugsy studied the intricacies of criminal life. At an early age, he became a member of one of Manhattan's many burglary gangs.

Benjamin then became friends with Moe Sedway. The friends started running a racket, imposing tribute on local street vendors. They punished stubborn people who did not want to pay by burning the goods.

As he matured, Siegel moved on to more profitable ventures. He stole cars, provided protection for entrepreneurs and organized underground gambling.

He has a new partner, Meyer Lansky. Together they founded the Bugs and Meyer Mob, which operated in New York and New Jersey. The guys robbed banks, sold illegal alcohol during times and committed contract killings, but were able to escape punishment.

Lansky recalled that his sidekick had a violent temper:

Benny never doubted the fight. He was faster than the hottest Sicilian guys. He always hit or shot first.

Joseph "Doc" Stacher of their gang spoke of him in the same spirit:

One day, an attempt was made on Meyer and Bugsy. The killer threw a grenade into the window of the room where the friends were. Without hesitation, Siegel picked her up and threw her back. He suffered some damage from the blast and spent some time in the hospital.

In the early thirties, friends began doing business together with Charlie “Lucky” Luciano and Frank Costello, future legends of the Italian mafia. This strengthened his connections with the most authoritative clans and ensured the further flourishing of his career.

California stage

In 1937, Siegel's bosses sent him to California, where he moved with his wife and two daughters. According to the official version, he was supposed to be involved in the legal gambling business. In fact, he was tasked, collaborating with local authority Jack Dragna, to found an underground syndicate that could take control of local gambling.

It was a beautiful period in Bugsy's life. He settled his relatives in a luxurious mansion, moved in cinematic circles, communicated very closely with famous singers and artists - in general, he lived as befits a socialite.

But numerous mistresses and endless parties did not stop him from “working.” He forced the actors' union to pay him tribute, established several smuggling channels, ensured an uninterrupted supply of Mexican heroin to California and eliminated several competitors.

In the fall of 1939, Bugsy was arrested on suspicion of murdering a fellow gang member. Behind bars, he felt no worse than at home: he ate delicacies, slept on a soft bed, met women and drank elite alcohol. When the main witnesses, unexpectedly for the police, went to the next world, Siegel had to be released.

Bugsy, Flamingo and Las Vegas

As legend has it, in the early forties, Siegel accidentally ended up in Las Vegas. Casinos were already allowed there, but the city was still a dusty hole in the desert with a few establishments mediocre. Allegedly, then Bugsy decided to make it a capital of gambling entertainment, not inferior.

But Siegel's role in the history of Las Vegas should not be exaggerated. Casinos were operating there long before its appearance, and the contribution of many other people to the development of the city was much more significant. Bugsy's credit goes to what he offered in his establishment. new level service, forcing other operators to comply with it.

In 1945, Benjamin began building the Flamingo Hotel and Casino with businessman William Wilkerson. Wilkerson soon found himself out of work. He was made to understand that he needed to give up his share in the future project. Unable to withstand the pressure, Billy fled to Paris, and the Flamingo became the property of a criminal syndicate, which allocated money for construction.

Bugsy got down to business on the greatest scale possible in post-war America. The Flamingo Hotel cost the mafia six million dollars, which was a colossal sum for those times. The bosses suspected him of fraud and were going to send him to the next world even at the stage of construction of the building, but Lansky convinced them to give his old friend a chance.

December 26, 1946 took place official opening complex. At that time, only the casino, restaurant, club and theater were operating. Invited guests, including Hollywood stars, we couldn’t even stay the night because the hotel wasn’t ready yet.

Bugsy also showed himself not to be the best side. As the evening progressed, many customers got lucky and won big. Siegel began to pick on the lucky players, insult them, and even kicked one company out of the casino.

For a month, the establishment tried in vain to attract customers and lost almost three hundred thousand. It had to be closed until construction was completed. Since March 1947, Flamingo began operating at full capacity and began to slowly recoup costs.

Realizing that the merciless sword of criminal justice had long been hanging over him, Benjamin tried his best to turn Flamingo into the most profitable complex, but his efforts were not enough. The bosses had not forgotten about the questionable expenses and no longer trusted Bugsy.

End

Late in the evening of June 20, 1947, a killer killed Bugsy in his Beverly Hills home with a carbine shot. He fired several bullets. Two of them hit the head. Death came instantly.

Siegel's murder remains unsolved. Neither police nor journalistic investigations yielded results. There is not even a consensus regarding the motives for the crime. According to the most common version, he was killed by his own bosses, who did not forgive the huge waste on Flamingo. According to another version, he interfered with competitors. Popular opinion about love triangle featuring Bugsy, another gangster and his girlfriend. Most likely, we will never know the truth.

Several relatives gathered to see Siegel off on his last journey. None of the partners came to the funeral. But the press throughout the country widely discussed the high-profile murder. The newspapers even got photos of Bugsy taken at the crime scene and in the morgue.

The very next day after Siegel's death, Moe Sedway and Gus Greenbaum came to the Flamingo casino and took over the business of the establishment. The renovated hotel is currently owned by Caesars Entertainment.

Facts about Bugsy Siegel

In conclusion, a few little known facts about Bugsy Siegel:

The nickname Bugsy came from the expression “crazy as a bedbug” (literally, “crazy as a bug”), since Benjamin had an explosive character. He hated his nickname and once said: Strangers call me Mr. Siegel, and guys I don't like call me Bugsy, but not to my face. In 1938, Siegel and a group of Hollywood celebrities went on a treasure hunt in Costa Rica. The adventurers dug sand and blasted rocks on the islands for several days, but returned home empty-handed. The story hit the newspapers and became surrounded by incredible rumors. Bugsy was never convicted of a serious crime, although he was brought to trial for possession of drugs and weapons, murder, rape, robbery, theft, and so on. Only twice did the court issue convictions: in 1930 for gambling and vagrancy, and in 1944 for illegal betting on horse races. In both cases he escaped with fines. In 1939, Siegel was planning to sell explosives to the fascist government of Benito Mussolini. The deal was not concluded because the results of tests of a substance known as atomite did not impress the Italian dictator's representatives. In Rome, Bugsy crossed paths with Hermann Goering. Later, he expressed regret that during the meeting he did not kill the high-ranking Nazi, who brought so much grief to his people.

Conclusion

Of course, Benjamin Siegelbaum was not key figure in the history of the development of the Las Vegas gambling business. He was a successful gangster involved in gambling, but failed in his only attempt to create a commercially successful casino.

Bugsy laughed in the face of death dozens of times and deftly avoided police traps, but died as soon as he retired from criminal affairs and decided to go into legal business. Apparently, he shouldn’t have changed his occupation.